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Robeez
$30
Robeez
$30
Momo Baby
$30
Momo Baby
$35
Jemos Footwear
$29
Jemos Footwear
$29
Pediped
$32
Pediped
$40
Stride Rite
$20
Stride Rite
$44
If you’ve got a confident cruiser on your hands, it might be time to buy your baby’s first shoes. The best shoes for toddlers are ones that have soft soles, breathable material and room to move and grow. Read below to learn what to look for when you’re on the hunt for the best shoes for babies, and get our brand and style recommendations for baby’s first walking shoes. From brands like Robeez, Momo Baby and Stride Rite and retailers you love like Target, Amazon and Nordstrom, here are the best shoes for beginning walkers.
Watching your baby take her first steps is an exciting milestone for you and her. And now that she’s cruising, you may want to consider purchasing her first pair of baby shoes. Numerous types of infant shoes are on the market, but which ones are the best first shoes for baby? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed recommendations to help you find the best shoes for babies learning to walk.
The AAP says children learn to walk by gripping their toes on the ground, and they don’t need arch support. So at home, it’s okay — and even preferred — to leave your child barefoot to promote natural foot development. Shoes to help baby walk aren’t really necessary — the best first shoes for baby are ones that allow their feet to move as naturally as possible and serve as protection when surfaces are uneven, hot, cold or rocky.
The AAP gives three specific tips to follow when shopping for shoes for new walkers:
- Shoes should be lightweight and flexible to support natural foot movement.
- Shoes should be made of leather or mesh to allow your baby’s feet to breathe comfortably.
- Shoes should have rubber soles for traction to prevent slipping or sliding.
Based on these guidelines, here are five baby shoes you might consider for your baby’s first steps:
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
1 of 10 Image Credits: Robeez
Robeez
Robeez brand shoes are recognized as being one of the best walking shoes for baby — they even have the American Podiatric Medical Association’s (AMPMA) seal of approval. Robeez brand includes a wide range of styles of soft-soled baby shoes for walking that promote natural foot function. They’re made of high-quality leather, are flexible and support healthy foot development for early walkers and babies learning to walk.
2 of 10 Image Credits: Robeez
Robeez
3 of 10 Image Credits: Bed Bath and Beyond
Momo Baby
Momo Baby offers a wide variety of rubber-soled shoes made of genuine leather. These shoes for babies learning to walk have also been awarded the APMA seal of acceptance. When it comes to the best infant walking shoes, you can’t beat this classic, casual style. Momo Baby has some of the best shoes for 1-year-olds we’ve seen, too.
4 of 10 Image Credits: Amazon
Momo Baby
5 of 10 Image Credits: Jemos Footwear
Jemos Footwear
Good walking shoes for baby are made of soft material that bends with baby’s movement. Jemos Footwear provides eco-friendly kids’ shoes made from genuine leather that are free from toxins, lead and formaldehyde. Jemos’ soft-soled moccasin shoes are made from eco-friendly leather remnants. These baby walker shoes come in several colors and prints and are some of the best baby shoes for new walkers. (The girls’ selection happen to be cute toddler dressing up shoes, too.)
6 of 10 Image Credits: Jemos Footwear
Jemos Footwear
7 of 10 Image Credits: Amazon
Pediped
The APMA officially recognized Pediped shoes as beneficial for a child’s growing feet. The best baby walking shoes should be designed to let your baby’s feet move as if they were barefoot — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be super stylish. The shoes are made of premium grade leather, and their footwear system allows you to choose shoes designed for first steps, next steps and big steps. These baby shoes have sizing as low as 0-6 months, which means they can serve as a great pair of pre-walker baby shoes, too.
8 of 10 Image Credits: Zappos
Pediped
9 of 10 Image Credits: Target
Stride Rite
Stride Rite is another brand with the APMA’s seal of approval, and it’s a classic brand with a long-standing history of making some of the best infant shoes, best shoes for 1-year-olds, and best shoes for toddlers around. These trendy baby sneakers are durable and lightweight, with a helpful pull tab on the back to make getting shoes on your wiggly walker easier than ever. Its website features a large selection of baby shoes and a downloadable sizing chart.
10 of 10 Image Credits: Amazon
